Atika Capital Management LLC Buys 8,000 Shares of Vistra Corp. $VST

Atika Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 6.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,000 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 8,000 shares during the period. Vistra accounts for 2.4% of Atika Capital Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Atika Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Vistra were worth $24,032,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Vistra by 1.3% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 17,238 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,024,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vistra by 56.7% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,147 shares of the company’s stock valued at $957,000 after purchasing an additional 2,949 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in shares of Vistra by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 72,299 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,491,000 after buying an additional 634 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Vistra by 78.4% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 52,614 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,179,000 after buying an additional 23,118 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Vistra by 52.6% in the 1st quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,698 shares of the company’s stock worth $317,000 after buying an additional 930 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vistra Trading Up 3.7%

VST opened at $177.14 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $193.22 and a 200 day moving average of $188.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74. Vistra Corp. has a 12 month low of $90.51 and a 12 month high of $219.82. The firm has a market cap of $60.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.30.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $4.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.60 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.227 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Vistra’s payout ratio is presently 32.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In related news, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 58,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.75, for a total value of $10,183,556.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 218,239 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $38,137,265.25. This represents a 21.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total transaction of $9,456,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 306,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $51,772,476. The trade was a 15.44% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 868,339 shares of company stock worth $173,242,584 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Cowen started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. They set a “sector outperform” rating and a $256.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $238.00 target price for the company. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $230.00 target price (down from $241.00) on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $233.20.

Vistra Profile

Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia.